Still Signs of Masculine Norms in the Parliamentary Workplace? Political Gender Equality in Finland and Sweden After a Century of Universal Suffrage

Contemporary Finland and Sweden, which are often described as leaders in the realisation of political gender equality, clearly no longer comprise a man’s world in numerical terms. Nonetheless, there are indications that more subtle gender inequalities remain and that men still enjoy a privileged position. The present discussion draws on extensive empirical studies—including both survey data and interviews with MPs—in the effort to identify the masculine norms and practices that shape parliamentary work and reveal how they disadvantage women. More specifically, we found signs of masculine political norms in respect to competence, seniority, and political presence. While there are striking similarities between Finland and Sweden in this regard, there are also differences in how gendered logics play out in the two countries, particularly in respect to seniority. Furthermore, the findings warrant further studies concerning how masculine norms operate within different contexts. We provide a set of analytical tools for studying gendered norms that may be helpful in this endeavour.